Mechanism for winding insulated electric cables.



- G. AJoHNsoN, i MECHANISM FORWINDING INSULATED ELECTRIC' CABLES.

v I APPLICATION FILED KOVO. i914. 1,159,947. y

INVENTOR Mmm-:fs

GUTAV JOHNSON, 0F NEWARK', NEW JERSEY.

MECHANISM son WINDING INsuLa'rnn ELECTRIC cannnsir-l Specification ofLetter-s ratent. Patented'NoiQ, 1 915.

applicati@ineativweniiwr10,11914. seriaiNo'. 871,221.

. To all whom/1 5 mag/concern.' i,

Be it known. that I, GUsfrAvia A. JOHNSON, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Newark, in the county ofEsseX and State of New Jersey, have invented certain .new and useful Im rovementsin Mechanism for Winding Insu ated Electric Cables; and I do hereby declarethe'following to be a full, clear, and exact description-ofthe invention, lo'such-as willfenable others skilled inthe art to which it 'appertains -t'o make and use the saine, reference' being had tothe accompanying drawings, and to characters ofreference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification. 1

The present invention relates, generally, to improvements'in mechanism for manufacturingarmored insulated electric cable;and, the invention relates, moreL particularly, te

.a n'ovel construction o f winding die for winding armor material'about insulated electric cable. .l The .invention .has for its, principal oblect toprovide a novel construction of winding die, for the purpose above mentioned, Whic operates easily and quickly to wind or curl the armor material about the electric cable without danger of choking or binding the armor material within the i ating great liability of fracturing or other-l wise injuring thearmor fma't'erial. And-a further object of the .present invention is to provide in combination with such novel die means at the exit. end of said die for receiving and retaining the wound armored cable. issuing and traveling from the' die against undue longitudinal. outivard'pulling or 1nward thrusting whereby danger of disturb ingthe proper disposition of the convolu. tions of the armor'would result, said means'` serving also to-,crimpfor press down the edges of the outer armorstrip in close and proper engagementwith the body of the inner armor strip.v j

Other objects of this invention not at this time, more particularly enumerated will be understood from the following detailed description of the present invention. l

With the various objects. of the present invention in View, the same consists, primarily, in Athe novel die mechanism hereinafter; 'set forth; and, the invention consists,

furthermore, in the details of the construce, and thus cre-A tion of the parts of saidi'die mechanism and l 'l the various combinations and arrangements thereof, all of which will be more fully described in the following'specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses ofthe claim which are appended toandwhich' form an essential part of this speci cation.`. The invention is clearlyillustrated in th'e accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of'the novel die mechanism made according to aiid`embodyving'the principlesof my present invention. Fig. 2 is an end view of lthe same. Fig. 3 is a detail vertical 4longitudinal section of one of the elements of which the guiding and crimping means is com osed; and 'Fig. fl is ai similar view of a mo iied construction o'f said element. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal "section of a modifiedform of construction ofthe novel die mechanism, still embodying, however, the generalprinciples of my present invention. 'Y f" Similar characters of reference are employed in all of the above described views to represent corresponding parts. Referring now to the said drawings, 'the ,reference character 1 indicates the base block of a die holder, and the'cliaracter 2 indicates the cap-'piece of said die' holder i '.which is secured in propef'i` relation to said base-block by' means of blts 3, or any'other suitable fastening means.-A Said base block and cap-piece together provide a longitudinal opening 4 in which the 'curling orwinding dies are arranged and clamped by securing together saidbase-block and its cap- .piece, The said winding or curling dies 90 lcomprise a set of first dies 5 consisting of two halves registered together so as to provide a longitudinally extending smooth' bore cylindrical dielopning of a diameter cor. responding to the-.desired diameter of' the convolutions of-the inner or concavearmor strip 7, and a set of second dies 8 consisting 4of two halves registered together so as to providea longitudinally extending smooth` bore cylindrical die opening 9 'of a diameter corresponding to the desired diameter of the convolutions of the outer or 'convex armor strip 10. The first dies 5 andsecond dies 8 are arranged end to end, and laterally extending obliquely transverse openings 11 and 12 communicating with said respective die openings' are provided for the entrance of said respective armor strips' 7 and 10 into said dies. Said base-block and 1ts cap-piece are also provided with an opening 13 in one V'side registered with the openings 11 and 12 of said dies for the insertion of said armor strips. u

In operation the electric cable 14, which 1s to be armored, is inserted in the outer end .0f said die opening 6 so as to pass through said'die opening 6 and the die opening 9. An armorstrip 7, which has been previously formed to shape the same concave in cross A section, is then inserted through the entrance pressure which results, when the strip strikes or contacts with the surface of the die` opening 6, in causing the same to curl or windaround the cable 14. In like manner;

25," an armor strip 10, which has been previously formed to shape the same convex in cross section, is then inserted through the entrance opening 12, the oblique direction of its entrance with reference to the longitudinal axis of the die opening 9 determining the pitch of the convolutions to be formed;

Saidarmorstrip l0 is fed forward under continuouspropellin'g, feeding or moving pressure which results, when said strip strlkes or contacts with the surface of the die opening 9, inv causing the same to curl or wind around, the partially armored cable 14. Thespacing of said feed openings lland- 12 relatively to each other is such that the convolutions of' the convex armor strip 10 straddle the convolutions of the concave armor strip 7, as is clearly shown in the drawings.

Heretofore it has been the practice to cnform the surface of the respective die openyings 6 and 9 to the contour or shape'of,`

namely concave and convex, of the convolutions of the' said inner and outer armor p since the armor material in' curling or windstrips, but it has been found by me that such an arrangement of dies is not satisfactory,

ing contacts with more die surface than is necessary, thereby greatly increasing the friction of the moving material withimtthe diesz-ad consequently greatly increasing the liability of choking within the dies which results in fractures and breaks in the linished armor rendering the finished lengths of the same Worthless, since the stock length -of armored cable is fixed by the trade dealing therein, and shorter pieces or lengths are practically worthless. I have found that by using my smooth bore cylindrical die openings, and feeding the armor strips obliquely therein, I can produce armored cable with greater speed, less friction, andA I4 thereby also greatly diminish the danger of injury to the cable during the process of formation.

I have also found that when the finished armored cable emerges from the forming dies and passes to the reeling mechanism, it is subject, when Wound up by the reeling mechanism, to intermittent pulls, pushes or longitudinal jerks or strains in both directions, and that such action frequently results in distorting the convolutions forming within the dies, and also tends to increase the liability of the armor material to choke up within the dies. To obviate these undesirable effects I provide at the exit end of said dies a means for holding the armored cable against such longitudinal strains as it passes to the reeling mechanism, and the means I provide for this purpose is also constructed to aid in crimping or forcing down the longitudinal' edges of the convolutions of the outer or convexl armor strip in close contact with the outer surface of Ithe convolutions of the inner or concave armor strip, thus providing a higher grade and better finish in the completed armored cable. The means I employ for the above purposes comprises a series of rotary gripping rolls or members 15 the surface of which is convoluted as at 16, to provide concave convolutions adapted to embrace the convex convolutions of the outer armor strip. Preferably I employ three such gripping rolls or members 15 mounted to engage with said armored cable as it emerges from the dies at different points around its circumference, although I may use more or less than three of the same 'if such practice is in any case desirable.

The reference character 17 indicates a bracket member secured by the bolts 18 to the base-block 1 `of the die holder, and at the exit end of the same. Said bracketmember is provided with slots 19` through which said bolts l184 pass so that the same may be adjusted to move the gripping rolls or members 15 which it carries into proper contact with the armored cable emerging from the dies. Preferably the upper portion of said bracket-member is provided with an' outwardly off set upper portion 20 to which are secured the spindles 21 upon which said gripping-members or rolls are mounted. Said spindles 21 are screw threaded, as at 22, .at each end'and cone bearings 23 are adjusted at each end. The

inner ends of the spindles are passed through per-forations in said upper portion of said racket-member until the cone-bearing at that end abu'ts against the said upper portion, a nut :24 then being arranged 'and screwed upon the inner end of thcspindle'to rigldly secure the same in.l supported extenslon from the upper portion of vsaid bracketmember. Each gripping roll or member is :l a.; non-rotating,

provided at each end with cone-receiving outer-bearing cone is locked in adjusted'po# sition by the lock-nut 27. As thus mounted the gripping rolls or members turn freely,

- with little friction, while in close contact with the armored cable.

The reference character 28 indicates a swinging bracket, one end of which is bolted to the cap-,piece 2, or other suitable part I of the. die-holder. A spindle 2l is secured to the free. end of said swinging bracket 28 and' a gripping roll or member with the ball-bearings ,as above described is mounted thereon. Said swinging bracket may be adjusted to bring the gripping roll or member carried thereby into proper engagement with the armored cable.

Of course, the respective bracket members above described constitute only one method of mounting said gripping rolls or members,

'and it will be understood that other means of mountingthe same may be employed, the

material'feature of my invention being the y arrangement ofthe gripping rolls or members in position to properly contact with the v armored cable as it emerges from the dies. 'Of course it will be apparent that the surface 'of the gripping rolls or members conforming as vit does with the conformation of the exterior' surface of the armored cable, the l: tter is held thereby against undue longitli hlal strains or jerks while still within the forming dies, while still permitting the free movement of the armored cable to the reeling mechanism, and at the same time vthis conforming surface of the gripping 40 rolls tends to crimp down in Aproper arrangement and rela-tion the outer armor strip upon the inner armor strip.

' lt may be desirable to construct and mount the gripping members. so that the sameare as shown in Fig. l, in which there is a gripping-member 29, having at one end a screw-threaded stud 30 which passes through the bracket-member 30', and

is rigidly secured in place b v the nut 3l.

Referring now to Fig. 5 of the drawings I vshow a slightly modified form of gripping means which may be. substituted for the gripping members abovedescribed, this means comprising a stationary nut member 32, secured to the die-holder at the exit end, and provided with an opening threaded to luniform to and receive the convolutins of the armored cable, as the'same passes therethrough to-the reeling n'iechanism. 5.3 I claini:

1. In a deviezof the kind described the combination with a die holder of a firi winding die. provided with a smooth bore die opening, a second winding die provided 05 with a smooth bore die opening, said second winding die being arranged end to end lwith v,openings through which the material to be wound gains access to the die openings.

2. In a device of the kind described the combination with a die holder of a first winding die ,provided with a smooth bore die opening, a second winding die provided with a smoothbore die opening, said second 75 winding die being arranged end to end with said first winding die, said dies being further provided with transverse oblique openings through 4which the material to be A wound gains access to the die openings, said first winding die being adapted to wind an inner armor strip, said second winding die being adapted to wind an outer armor strip, and said transverse oblique entrance openings V being positioned relatively to each, g5 other to feed the armor strips so that the convolutions of the outer armor strip will stra ddlc the eonvolutions of the inner armor 3.. In a device of the kind described `the 9'0 combination' with a die holder of a first winding die provided with a smooth bore die opening, a second winding die provided with a smooth bore die opening, said second winding die being arranged end to end with said first'winding die,said'dies being further provided with transverse oblique openings through4 which the material to be wound gains access to the die bpenings, and means located 'at the exit end of sald dies 10o for engaging the armored cable issuing therefrom and holding the same against undue"longitudinal strains or jerks.

el. In a deviceof the kind described the combination with a die holder of a first lo winding die provided with a smooth bore die opening, a second'winding die provided with a smooth bore die opening, said second ,winding die being arranged end to end with said first winding die, said dies being fur-'1110 ther provided with transverse oblique openings through which the material to be wound gains access to the die openings, said first winding die being adapted to wind an inner armor strip, said second winding die being adapted to wind an outer armor strip,

4and said transverse oblique entrance openings being positioned relatively to each other to feed the armor strips so that the convolutions of the outer armor strip will 12b straddle the convolution's of the inner armor strip, and means located at the exit end of said dies for engaging the armored cable issuing therefrom and holding the-same against undue longitudinal strains or `jerks. 125

5. In a device of the kind described the? combination with a die holder of afirst winding die provided with a smooth bore die opening, a second winding die provided with a smooth bore die opening,said second ,130

v winding diebeing arranged end to end with said first `Winding die,.said dies being further provided with transverse oblique openings through which the material to be Wound gains' access to the die openings, said first winding die being adapted to wind an inner armor strip, said second winding die being adapted to wind an outer armor strip, said transverse oblique entrance openings being positioned relatively to each other to feed the armor strips so that the convolutions of the outer armor strip will straddle the convolutions of the inner armor strip, a plurality of gripping rolls loated at the exit vend of said dies, adjustable bracket- 15 

